Garfield County Death Index Records
Garfield County death index records give researchers and families access to one of Utah's most remote and scenic counties. The county seat is Panguitch, and vital records for Garfield County are handled through the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, which serves five counties in the region. Death records have been collected since 1905, though some early records predate formal state registration. Garfield County is also included in FamilySearch's statewide Utah Death Certificates 1904-1964 collection, making historical research accessible online at no cost. This guide explains every way to find and request Garfield County death records.
Garfield County Quick Facts
What Garfield County Death Index Records Include
A Garfield County death certificate captures the essential facts recorded at the time of death. The full name of the deceased, date and place of death, cause of death, age, birthplace, and the name of the attending physician or informant are all standard fields on a Utah death certificate. These facts appear in every certificate from 1905 onward and make the Garfield County death index useful for both legal and genealogical purposes.
FamilySearch includes Garfield County in two major Utah death collections. The Utah Death Certificates 1904-1964 collection holds over 260,000 indexed entries. The Utah Death Registers 1847-1966 collection adds more than 300,000 entries that predate the formal registration era. Both are searchable by name and viewable as scanned images. No subscription is needed to search or view these records on FamilySearch.
Garfield County's terrain is largely rural, and early settler deaths may appear in church registers or informal community records that are not part of the main state index. The Utah State Archives holds some of these supplementary materials and can assist researchers who need records not found in the online indexes.
Note: Some Garfield County records from the early 1900s may reflect incomplete information because remote areas were among the last to achieve full compliance with state registration requirements by 1917.
How to Search Garfield County Death Records
For deaths between 1904 and 1964, the free FamilySearch database is the best starting point. Visit the FamilySearch Utah Death Certificates page and search by name. Filtering by county narrows results to Garfield County entries. If you find a match, you can view the original scanned certificate. The death registers on the same site extend coverage back to 1847.
For deaths after 1964 or when you need an official certified copy, contact the Southwest Utah Public Health Department. SWUPD serves Washington, Iron, Garfield, Beaver, and Kane counties. Their main office is at 620 S. 400 E., Suite 400, St. George, UT 84770. You can also order online through VitalChek for the Southwest Utah Health District. Application forms are available in both English and Spanish at the SWUPD office.
For records that predate 1905 or that are not found in the main index, the Utah State Archives is the right next step. The archives hold early county-level materials, cemetery records, and church registers that supplement the formal Garfield County death index. The VitalRec.com Utah counties page offers a quick reference to locating the right office for any Utah county death record.
Garfield County Death Certificate Office
The Southwest Utah Public Health Department is the designated vital records office for Garfield County. SWUPD handles death certificate requests for Garfield County along with Washington, Iron, Beaver, and Kane counties. Their main office is in St. George at 620 S. 400 E., Suite 400, St. George, UT 84770. Application forms in English and Spanish are available at this office.
SWUPD's website at swuhealth.gov/records provides current information on how to request a Garfield County death certificate, what documents to bring, and how to complete the application. Online ordering through VitalChek is available for remote requestors who cannot visit the office in person.
The Utah Office of Vital Records in Salt Lake City also maintains Garfield County records and can process requests when the regional SWUPD office is not accessible.
Note: Garfield County applicants may request records at either the SWUPD regional office or the state Utah OVR office, as both maintain access to the statewide death index.
Getting Garfield County Death Certificates
The fee for a Garfield County death certificate is $30 for the first certified copy. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $10. These fees apply whether you order through SWUPD or the state Utah OVR. The fee is non-refundable if no record is located for the name and date you provide.
You can order a Garfield County death certificate in several ways. Online ordering through VitalChek for the Southwest Utah Health District is the most convenient remote option. In-person visits to the SWUPD main office in St. George allow same-day service in many cases. Mail requests are also accepted; send a completed application form, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for the correct amount to the SWUPD office or the Utah OVR office in Salt Lake City.
Garfield County death records that are more than 50 years old are public records available to anyone. Records within the 50-year window are restricted. To request a restricted record, you must be an immediate family member or a legal representative of the deceased, and you must provide a valid photo ID along with documentation proving your relationship or authority.
Historical Death Records in Garfield County
Garfield County has a pioneer settlement history that predates formal state death registration. Early Mormon settlers arrived in the region before 1880, and their deaths appear in the Utah Death Registers 1847-1966 that FamilySearch has made freely available online. These registers include over 300,000 entries statewide and cover Garfield County deaths that occurred before the state began requiring formal certificates in 1905. Searching the death registers alongside the 1904-1964 certificate index gives researchers the most complete picture of early Garfield County deaths.
The Utah State Archives in Salt Lake City holds original documents that do not appear in either online collection. Church burial registers, cemetery transcriptions, and early county records are among the types of materials available for Garfield County. Researchers who cannot locate a record in any online index should contact the Utah State Archives for assistance identifying alternative sources.
The Utah State Archives preserves Garfield County materials from the pioneer era and the early 20th century that supplement the main death index collections.
Death Record Access in Garfield County
Utah law controls access to all Garfield County death records. The primary statute is Utah Code 26B-8-125, which sets a 50-year restriction on death records. A record becomes public 50 years after the date of death. Anyone can then request it without stating a purpose or providing personal documentation.
For records within the 50-year restriction window, access is limited to immediate family members, legal representatives, and certain government agencies with documented need. Immediate family means a spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased. All restricted-record requestors must provide a valid government-issued photo ID and proof of their relationship to the deceased. Proof may include a birth certificate, marriage license, or court-issued document.
GRAMA, the Government Records Access and Management Act, provides the broader legal framework. Utah Code 63G-2 defines how records are classified and how the public can appeal a denial. If your request for a Garfield County death record is denied, you have the right to appeal to the State Records Committee under GRAMA. This process is available regardless of whether the record is held by SWUPD or the state OVR.
The SSA POMS entry for Utah confirms that the state's death registration system began in 1905 and reached general compliance by around 1917. For Garfield County, this means some deaths from the 1905-1917 period may not appear in the formal state death index even though they technically fall within the registration era.
Note: Garfield County's remote location means that some early death records may exist only in local church or community sources not held by any official government office.
Nearby Counties
Garfield County is in south-central Utah and shares borders with several other counties. Records are filed in the county where the death occurred, so confirm the correct county before submitting a request.